Washington voters waver on GHG repeal: Poll
Support for a repeal of Washington's carbon market in the upcoming November election may be softening, while a repeal targeting the state's plans to phase out natural gas may be gaining strength, according to a recent public opinion poll.
The poll — which canvassed 403 registered state voters by phone and online earlier this month — indicates just under a clear majority of voters leaning towards a "no" vote on initiative 2117, which would repeal language in the state's Climate Commitment Act (CCA) authorizing the state's cap-and-trade program. A successful repeal would prevent local and state officials from creating a similar replacement for the "cap-and-invest" program.
Data collected in the survey indicates that 46pc of those surveyed would vote against the repeal, with the bulk of voters identifying as Democrat, with 21pc Republican support. The repeal vote received 30pc support, with slightly more than half those surveyed in favor identifying as Republican, and a further 2pc of the total surveyed undecided on the issue.
Washington's "cap-and-invest" program requires large industrial facilities, fuel suppliers and power plants to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 45pc by 2030 and by 95pc by 2050, from 1990 levels. Revenue from state allowance auctions and other related funds is required by state law to be used for critical climate projects throughout Washington.
In contrast, initiative 2066 received a majority support in requiring the state to continue to provide natural gas to utility customers, at 47pc. The ‘no' vote to continue dissuading the use of natural gas in the state as part of the state's energy transition plan garnered 29pc, with a further 24pc undecided. Respondents identifying as Republican formed the bulk of the "yes" vote with 68pc.
Initiative 2066 would repeal HB 1589, signed into law by governor Jay Inslee (D) earlier this year. The law creates planning requirements for certain utilities to comply with a network of state regulations and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and transition away from natural gas in cost-effective ways.
Let's Go Washington, a political action committee, has backed both initiatives over the past year, on the narrative that the state's plans to transition away from natural gas-use and the cap-and-trade program raise fuel and energy prices for families.
The poll, conducted by Cascade PBS/Elway, had 43pc of respondents identify as Democrat, 24pc as Republican and 34pc as Independent. Respondents were primarily ages 36 and older, from western regions of the state and with the majority, at 34pc, from suburban areas.
Under state law, either initiative will need to receive a majority of total votes cast to pass in the 5 November election.
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India’s energy transition hinges on power sector
India’s energy transition hinges on power sector
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Petronas, Japanese firms advance Sarawak CCS project
Petronas, Japanese firms advance Sarawak CCS project
Singapore, 17 September (Argus) — Malaysia's state-owned Petronas and eight Japanese companies have agreed with Japan's state-owned energy firm Jogmec to proceed with work on a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to transport and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from Japan to Sarawak, Malaysia. The firms have signed a contract with Jogmec to proceed with the commissioning of design work related to the CCS project, the companies said on 13 September. The companies will work together to examine the equipment and costs required for the separation, collection and liquefaction of CO2 emitted from multiple industries in Japan's Setouchi area, including steelworks, power and chemical plants, as well as the marine transport and injection and storage of the CO2 in Sarawak. The CCS project is located off the coast of Sarawak and has an estimated storage capacity of 1.9mn-2.9mn t/yr. The eight Japanese companies are Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex), JGC, shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), JFE Steel, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC), Mitsubishi Chemical, Chugoku Electric Power (Energia) and Nippon Gas Line (NGL). Japex, JGC, K Line and Petronas will also investigate the profitability of the CCS project using depleted gas fields offshore Sarawak, including the M3 depleted field, as CO2 storage sites. JFE Steel, MGC, Mitsubishi Chemical and Energia will carry out CO2 separation and capture in the process of their respective operations. NGL will look into infrastructure for the domestic coastal transport of liquefied CO2 by ship. The Sarawak CCS project was previously selected by Jogmec as a potential project to receive funds for initial engineering works, as a part of Tokyo's strategy to ensure commercial utilisation of the technology by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year. It is unclear how much funding Jogmec will provide for this project. By Joey Chan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
East Timor takes stake in Bayu-Undan gas field
East Timor takes stake in Bayu-Undan gas field
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The Hague eyes sector agreement to support gas output
The Hague eyes sector agreement to support gas output
London, 16 September (Argus) — The new Dutch government aims to reach agreement with the oil and gas sector on support for domestic North Sea production, while introducing a new law to make gas supply more secure. The government in its new longer-term plan set out a new policy approach to its promise to "scale up" domestic gas production from the North Sea. A sector agreement would "increase investment security and the predictability of government policy", the cabinet said. Dutch domestic gas production is in long-term decline, although the climate and green growth ministry, and research organisation TNO, forecast some scope for domestic production to stay stable until around 2030 before dropping, depending on overall investment. Much like the previous government, the current administration has stated its intention to boost North Sea production . Former mining minister Hans Vijlbrief said last year that the government was moving to slow the rate of gas output decline "as much as possible". The previous coalition government had already been using tailor-made agreements with companies involving decarbonisation, while the new incoming coalition cabinet in May announced its intention to use this policy tool in other areas as well. The government released a more detailed outline of planned policies and legislative changes on 13 September, after the previous coalition agreement was published in mid-May. And by the fourth quarter, the government plans to consult on a new law to "strengthen crisis preparedness in the field of gas market and increase robustness for the gas system". This includes some EU-level developments, such as a focus on energy savings in the new European regulation on security of gas supply, the government said. And the cabinet said it would examine how "the government, in addition to the market, can take a more proactive role in ensuring that gas storages are filled". The Netherlands does not presently have a strategic gas reserve, unlike other countries such as Austria or Italy. And in the coalition agreement, the parties had set out to "establish reserves" for gas, in order to keep the giant Groningen gas field closed. By Till Stehr Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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